Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR) Vol-2, Issue-7, 2016 ISSN: 2454-1362, http://www.onlinejournal.in Introduction of English into Buddhist Schools of Vietnam: Problems and Its Solutions Ven. Phan Anh Duoc Research Scholar, Gautam Buddha University, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India I. INTRODUCTION The predominant form of Buddhism in Buddhism in Vietnam is predominantly of Vietnam is a combination of Pure Land and Zen. the Mahayana form; the Theravada tradition is well Zen practice, with its emphasis on meditation is recognized and is experiencing a growing interest mostly pursued among the monks and nuns, while especially in the practice of meditation since 1920. Pure Land philosophy and practice is preferred by Buddhist entered Vietnam in two the lay-people. significant waves. The first was a missionary wave The 11th to the 15th century, unlike its of Mahayana scholars from India in the first South East Asian neighbors to follow the century CE. From olden days, the South China Sea Theravada tradition, Vietnam was strongly border, known as Indochina, had commercial links impacted by the Chinese and is first one to with India and it was a popular place visited by integrate Buddhist, Taoist and Confucian traditions. many Indian Buddhist missionary monks on their As a result, many Taoist symbols and meditation way to China. By the end of the 2nd century, tools became mainstreamed into Vietnamese Vietnam developed a major Buddhist center, called Buddhist thought. The most part of Vietnamese Luy-Lau center. A number of Mahayana sutras and scholars at that time were only Buddhist monks the Agamas were translated into Chinese script at who knew Chinese and Sanskrit perfectly well. that center. The second wave of Buddhist thought Buddhism continued to exert a dominating occurred about two hundred years later when influence under the Tran dynasty. Even one of Theravada was introduced in the region. Both of them, king Trần Nhân Tôn , after having abdicated these schools of Buddhist thought co-existed and retired to a monastery, founded a new sect throughout Vietnam. In the 6th and 7th century Thiền (Zen) or that of Forest of Bamboo that Mahayana flourished, and century reached to the continue to exist up to now. Buddhism declined peak in the 12th. and yielded to Confucianism only at the end of 13th When Vietnam was established as an century. One continued to see the decline of independent state in 939 at the fall of the T'ang Buddhism until 1963. dynasty, it was the Buddhist monks who, being the In the 1920s and 1930s, there were a sole true holders of knowledge, helped the first number of movements in Vietnam for the revival dynasties to consolidate their power. Under the and modernization of Buddhist activities. This earlier Le and Ly dynasties, Vietnamese literature includes the re-organization of Mahayana and a was constituted a great deal of learned poetry and growing interest in Theravadin meditation and Pali of Buddhist inspiration composed by monks. Canon. In the 1960s and 1970s, a number of The monk Van Hanh helped king Ly Cong Vietnamese bhikkhus were sent overseas for Uan to get rid of the Dinh decadents and found the further training, mostly in Thailand and some in Sri Ly dynasty (1009-1225). Van Hanh was not only a Lanka and India. talented politician but also a poet. The Ly dynasty Nowadays, Buddhists are located almost owed it rise to the influence and counsel of this everywhere in Vietnam, from North to South. monk, which explained why Buddhism would Buddhism is the single largest religion in Vietnam. become the state religion. Many of the sovereigns However, English books on Vietnamese are still of this dynasty belonged to the sects Thien (Ch'an modest in number. The most imporant reason for in Chinese). They granted great favors to this can be seen by the limitation of “Buddhist Buddhism, in particular Lý Thái Tôn, who, in English” in Buddhist schools of Vietnam. It meets 1031, after his victory over Champa, had over one lots of difficulties for the introdcution of Buddhist hundred fifty monasteries built. In spite of the English in Buddhist Schools nowdays. This paper beneficial influence of Buddhism, for the needs of will be done for the attempt of finding out various a methodical organization and an effective problems of the introduction of English into administration of the country, the Ly dynasty had Buddist Schools of Vietnam and then making the to adopt the Chinese model at all echelons of relevant solutions. Besides that, I also make a good administration. interaction of education between Vietnamese Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR) Page 1240 Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR) Vol-2, Issue-7, 2016 ISSN: 2454-1362, http://www.onlinejournal.in Buddhist Schools and other Buddhist Schools In the second year, little monks and nuns abroad, especially for the useful link among these will focus on important subject as follows: schools. - Dasa Sikkhapada (The Ten Training Rules) and its commentary. II. CONTENT - Wisdom Words of Most Venerable 1. BUDDHIST SCHOOLS IN VIETNAM Qui Son. School here means an educational - Basic Buddhist Teachings. institution, not a sect in Buddhism. Buddhist - Short history of Buddhism in India. schools in Vietnam can be classified into four main - Discourse on Last Words of The levels: elementary class, Buddhist high school, Buddha (in Agama Pitaka) college and university. - Discourse on Eight Enlightenments of The Vietnam Buddhist Sangha Great Man. Congregation now has four Buddhist Universities - Bodhicitta Commentary. in Hanoi, Hue, Ho Chi Minh City (Mahayana - Selected Jataka Stories. tradition) and Can Tho (Theravada tradition), six - Chinese Language. Buddhist colleges, thirty Buddhist high schools and - Vietnamese Language. hundreds of elementary classes which enrol tens of b. Buddhist High School: thousands of monks and nuns. Nearly two hundred In Vietnam, there are thirty Buddhist Buddhist graduates earned doctorates abroad. schools. Different schools give different Nowadays, Vietnam has a strong academic programs in terms of structure of development of the Buddhist education and subject and time of study. Here, I just mention training. Thanks to these training programmes, about common subject taught in these schools. Buddhist monks and nuns’ qualification has been In the first year, monks and nuns will raised, helping to strengthen the Vietnam Buddhist study the following disciplines: Sangha Congregation, develop and protect - Discourse on Last Words of The traditional cultural values of Buddhism in Vietnam. Buddha. During the past twenty five years, - Discourse on Ten Good Actions. Vietnamese Buddhist schools have developed - Wisdom Words of Most Venerable constantly to meet the increasing demand for Qui Son. training qualified Buddhist personnel for the - Discourse on Eight Enlightenments of Vietnam Buddhist Sangha Congregation chapters Great Man. across the country. All Buddhist monks and nuns - Dharmagupta Vinaya work harder to build a stronger the Buddhist - Buddhist Epistemology. Sangha and actively participate in patriotic - Elementary Buddhist Textbooks in emulation movements for national development Chinese language. and construction under the motto “Dhamma- - Basic features of Buddhist Nation-Modern”. Philosophy. - History of Indian Buddhism. 2. CURRICULLUM OF THE - A study on Only-Consciousness SYLLABUS doctrine. a. Elementary Class: - Bodhicitta Commentary. The elementary classes of Buddhist - Chinese language. Studies are organized in most disticts of all - Vietnamese language. provinces in Vietnam. The educational program has In the second year, basic subjects should spent two year with the basic attention of be studied as follows: elementary level in Buddhist doctrines as well as - Dhammapada. rules. - Nagasena Sutra (Chinese version of In the first year: little monks and nuns will the Pali counterpart: Milindapanha). study important subject as follows: - Sutra of Forty Two Chapters. - Essential Regulations in daily life. - Introduction to Pali Sutta Pitaka. - Standard Activities in daily life. - Introduction to Agama Pitaka. - Basic Buddhist teachings. - Amitabha Sutra. - Life of the Buddha. - Introduction to Vinaya Pitaka. - Dhammapada. - A study on Only-Consciousness - Selected Jataka Stories. doctrine. - Moral Stories in Great Sage - History of Chinese Buddhism. Discourse (in Chinese version of - Chinese language. Agama Sutra), not found in Pali - Vietnamese language. Tipitaka. The program of the third year is as below: Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR) Page 1241 Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR) Vol-2, Issue-7, 2016 ISSN: 2454-1362, http://www.onlinejournal.in - Majjhima Nikaya. o Mandarin Chinese. - Majjhima Agama. Second Year: - A Critical Study of Buddhist - Dharmagupta Vinaya Pitaka. Philosophy. - History of Vietnamese Buddhism. o Western Philosophy. - Life of Sangha. o Maxist-Leninist Philosophy. - Vijnaptimatra Siddhi Sastra. o Environmental Science. - Chinese language. o Sociology. - Vietnamse language. o Mandarin Chinese. c. Buddhist college: o History of Chinese Tripitaka The educational program of the first year Literature. will teach students the following subjects: o History of Pali Literature. - Surangama Sūtra. o History of Sanskrit - Majjhima Nikaya. Literature. - Abhidhammakosastra. o Introduction to Management. - History of World Civilizations. o Introduction to Psychology. - Vijnaptimatra Siddhi Sastra. o Mandarin Chinese. - Chinese language.